System for the mechanical adjustment of the wick in so-called night lights and new means for fixing the wick itself



June 15 1926. 1,588,992

-' A. RAGIQNIERI Er AL- SYSTEM FOR THE MECHANICAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE WIOK IN so CALLED NIGHT LIGHTS AND NEW MEANS FOR FIXING THE WIGK ITSELF Filed July 18, 19 22 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inven to rs A orney June 15 1926. 1,588,992 Q A. RAGIONIERI El AL SYSTEM FOR THE MECHANICAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE WtcK IN 80 CALLED NIGHT LIGHTS AND NEW MEANS FOR FIXING THE WIcK I'I'SELF' Filed ly 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l'nventrs 9 Atto rue June 15 1926. 15885992 1 A. RAGIONIERI El AL SYSTEM FOR THE MECHANICAL ADJUSTMENT on THE wwx IN so CALLED NIGHT LIGHTS AND NEW MEANS FOR FIXING THE WICK ITSELF Filed July 18 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 jay.

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Inventors June 15 192 T' 4 1,588,992 A. RAGIONIERI ET'AL SYSTEM FOR THE MECHANICALADJUSIMENT OF THE WICK IN '50 CALLED NIGHT LIGHTS AND NEW MEANS FOR FIXING THE WICK ITSELF Filed July 18, 1922 4'Sheets-Sheet 4 I I 6' a m" Inventors d rney Patented June 15,1926.

UNI-TED. STAT Es PATENT OFFICE.

anmanno naeroivrnm AND OLINTO MADRIGALI, or FLORENCE, ITALY.

SYSTEM FOR THE MECHANICAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE WIGK IN SO-CALLED'NIGH'I LIGHTS'AND NEW MEANS FOR FIXING THE WICK ITSELF.

Application filed July 18, 1922, Serial The machine presented replaces the manual operation of threading; adjusting, cutting, off and fixing the wick in the short candles commonly called night-lights.

The machine enables the advantageous variation of the wick-fixing method. The wick used, in fact, to be held fast by means of an underlying piece of metal, or clip, provided with lateral and central points,

I all turned in towards the interior or centre of the light; the lateral. points served to hold the piece of metal in position, the central ones being intended to grip the wick. But the latter was not completely'held fast 5 because the points which are turned in to ward the centre of the candle, evenwhen flattened, failed to grip the wick.

With the new system, on the contrary, the central points turn outwards, and when the l wick has been threaded in and the machine has flattened the points, the latter completely catch hold of the wick-end and grasp it tightly, even if forced upwards. The machine allows of the flattening of .the points 5 even if they are turned in towards the centre. p

The machine consists ina member which draws' the wick upwards, threading it into the'centre of the candle and adjusting the height thereof, in a cutting-off system at an appropriate 'and adjustable point of the wick itself; and in a device for compressing the points of the piece of metal serving to fasten the wick; the whole being causedto act by a single operation or by two distinct operations.

The accompanying drawings show two practical examples of the, application of theinvention. Therein, Fig. 1 is a front view to of the mechanism, as a whole, Fig. 2 is, a plan of-said mechanism; Fig. 3' the. same apparatus, partly in section, represented as when at work; Fig. 4 the plan of the apparatus, likewise, when at work, but for clearness in the drawing, without the operating lever. Fig. 5 shows in vertical section and in horizontalsection, respectively, a system for" enabling a. wheel of the apparatus to be displaced so far as to allow the wick to 50 pass through. Fig. 6 shows the plane projection of the counter-weight with its adjusting-screw; Fig. 7 a system of brake for the fore wheel, and Fig; 8 is the metal piece, which when applied to the bottom of the candle, holds the wick fast.

No. 575,311, an in Italy m 2-5, 1921.

Figs. li are examples of the first type of machine.

The second type is indicated b Figs. 9l5 therein. Fig. 9 indicates a si e view of the apparatus; Fig. 10 shows the latter in a-plan view and Fig. 11 is a front View. Fig. '12,.is a section on line AB of Fig. 1.0; Fig. 13 a cross section on line CD of Fig. 12; Fig. 14; is likewise a crosssection, on line EF of Fig. l2;'Fig. 15 likewise across section, on line GH of Fig. 12.

The variations in connection with the second type relate to a rubber band applied to the wheels which raise the wick, which band or cover aifords the advantage of additionally assuring the raising of the wick itself. Moreover, said wheels have been provided. witha plate which may be fixed at various points and against which strikes a catch; thus,'by a variation in the position ofthe plate the length of the wick is varied.

The hammer for the purpose of flattening the clip, is in this second type, adjustable ifn trespect of its height, it being screwed as p The second example presents a .type with operations independent of each other, so that, at one stroke; movement is imparted to the wheels in order to raise the wick, whereas the operation for cutting off the wick and flattening the clip is brought about at another stroke, although with the same hand. I

The machine consists in a support -ar adapted to fasten it to any plane surface. From the su port '--a depend two pairs, of forks o which sustain, respectively, an axis de-- on which are pivoted two slightly grooved wheels -'f'g. To said wheels are aflixed two intermeshing gears -h 4I, so that they are enabled to turn together.

The pivot -d of the rear wheel f is rigid'with said wheel and plays in the apertures of the fork -b'-. The play is. such as to allowof the displacement of the axis '-d such'as to enable the passage of a wick of rea'tr or less thickness in the grooves of t e wheels f--g. So that the wheel may not play by jerks, but. smoothly, a band spring -k is located appropriately. between the axis --d-' and the forked support -b- (see detail in Fig. 5). 7

Instead of the spring k-' the aperture for the grooved axis may be made slanting,

so that the weight of the wheel -'-fallows of a slight displacement, of the wheel itself.

Above the support w is located a column -1- within which slides the bearer m-- of the lever n+. Said bearer may be adjusted as to height by means of a small vise (or binding-screw -0-).

The lever n/ carries a hammer -10 which serves for the flattening of the metal part supporting the wick of the candle.

The lever n,-carries, pivoted to one end thereof two small connecting rods -gg which encircle a small counter weight lever -oto which are pivoted the two supporting arms s-tpivoted to the same axis -e of the wheel g. From this construction it will be seen that when the lever n is depressed, at the beginning of its downward motion, it will rock the lever r on its pivot and thus force it into frictional enagement with the wheel whereupon the urther depression of the lever 02. will cause the wheel to rotate until said lever has reached the limit of its downward motion, at which time the lever 1 will have been swung into the position shown in Fig. 3; During the upward movement of the lever n, the lever 1' will not rotate the wheel backs ward because, owing to the position of the lever, there is not sufficient frictional contact between it and the wheel'to overcome the breaking action of the member. 7.

The lever --r-, in its turn, is provided with a regulating screw -u which serves to regulate the course of the wheel and consequently,,the length of the wick. The lever n, is provided at one end with a draw spring w. Between the two wheels, at the lower part of the support, is situated a guide member -.rinto which passes the wick, it being guided and threaded into the nozzle ywhich carries a seat within which rests-always at the same point-the candle.

Between the base -2 and support -ais situate a groove -1 within whichv plays a knife 2 which is moved by the end -3 of a lever 4 upon which acts a pin 5- secured to the lever n--. A small spring --6 conveys the knife back to its place when the lever --n-- is raised.

In order that the fore wheel may not revolve .in a contrary direction, within the support w is located, a small brake, formed by a pin (or pivot) -7- with a small piston round the rod of which is wound a spiral spring which forces down the pin itself, causing friction against the wheel g.

With said machine the small metal disc 8- may be used for'supporting the wick. This part, thereby differing from those already'in use, carries the lateral points turned in towards the center of the candle and the central ones -10- outwards. Thisinnousa es vation affords the advantage, already alluded to, of ensuring the complete gripping of the wick, because the flattened points, owing to their tendency to turn outwards, while drawing the wick, cause that end of the latter which is held fast to always tend to catch into the points which have gripped the wick.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :-After inserting the wick into the open space or curve between the wheels and having introduced it into the aperture of the part -w the candle to which the small metal disc 8 has already been applied, is placed upside down, on the base z-. Then the lever m/ is lowered at a single stroke, carrying with it the wheel gwhich is made to revolve to a certain etent corresponding to the length of the wick which is, meanwhile, threaded into the candle and raised therein, because it is drawn up bx the action of the two wheels s soon as, after traveling a very short distance, the wick reaches the central aperture of the small disk -8- already applied to the candle the hammer --p, at this point, strikes, and presses against the points --10, flattening them and thus catching into the wick. At the same time, the small pin 5- strikes against the lever is which inclined and impels with its lower part, the knife 2- which cuts clean through the wick, leaving out as much as is required for ignition.

As soon as the lever nis released, through the action of the counter-weight 0} and of spring wit rises again and thus the knife returns to its place, through the action of its spring 6- and the regulating screw --u applied to the lever r is urged against the base -a of the apparatus, again setting it in position for a fresh operation. From now, the wick remains constantly fast, and the candles are set, manually, in the seat of the base z-. The cuttings produced by clipping thewick are collected in the cove 1- and driven out, one after the ot er.

In the example shown in Figs. 9-15 it will be seen that the wheels f-g. are provided with a band or rubber cover -1l, applied in any manner around that portion of their periphery which is not toothed. The wick finds itself between this rubber band, and by theapplication thereof it is more readily induced to rise and find room, whatever its size. In order to locate the wick with precision, it is inserted into the guide 12- supported-by the columns -13--, fixed to the base a. In such .manner the wick carried by the rubber band of the wheels and which winds off an underlying reel is completely introduced into the aperture of the part w. The reel not shown in the drawing because it is ammrnon part has a wide diameterwhich prevent the crum- [in the form of the device first described is shown secured to the lever n.

usages bling of the wax surface oi the wick wound rendered independent and is effected by the levers -1415- pivoted on the pivot of the wheel's'--fand iinited at the upper part by a lever-catch -16- which is depressed by the 'finger and in-which the en- I large part '-.17', by pressing on the rubber of the wheels, compels this form of the device, a spring '10 directly engages the levers 14. and 15 and serves to return them to initial position, this spring being used in place of the springw which The lever -14 's provided with a nose -18 which on striking against the small plate +19 limits the run of the wheels saigl'small plate ---19 is provided with a roove into which enters the screw 20--. lanifestly, the small plate may be raised and lowered, thus increasing or diminishing.

' the run of the wheel and, therefore, the

, len

h of the wick. he smallhammer ,-pis formed by a screw which passes'through an enlargement '-21- of the .lever Said hammer is provided with two check-nuts -23-24.- -which secure the hammer --+-p-" in the desired position. I

In this example the columni-1 carries pivoted at m. the lever ,n, without the part m-- being slidable, as in the first example.

The devicewhich strikes against the lever --4- for cutting of the wick, consists in a roller -25- rather than in the screw '5 Said roller acts like the screw ,5*. A

The operation of the flattening the clip remains the same as in the first example, that is to 'say, that on the lever n being lowered with the small hammer padjusted,--the desired efi'ect is obtained.

- member comprising,

Claims: I 1. A machine, of the character described,

- comprising, in combination, a base, a pair of lntermeshing wheels mounted for rotat on on said base and adapted to grip a wick between them, a member pivoted in concentric relation with one of said wheels and adapted when moved in one direction to frictionally engage said wheel, means for actuating said thereby to rotate the wheel a pre determined distance, and means automatically operative to return said actuating means to initial position. I y,

2. A machine of the character described, in combination, a base, a pair of interme'shing wheels mounted for rotation on said base and adapted to grip a wick between them, a movable memberadapted when moved in one direction to frictionally them to turn. In

engage. one oi; said wheels, means for actuating said member thereby .to rotate said wheel a predetermined distance, a' knife carried by said base and slidable into position to sever'said -wick, a spring for retaining 7 said knife in inoperative position, and means actuated-by said actuating meansfor imparting sliding motion to said knife against the tension of its spring. 3. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a base, a candlesupporting member carried by said base, the base having a wick aperture concentric with said member, a pair of intermeshing wheels mounted for rotation on said base and adapted to grip a wick between them, means for rotating said wheels a predetermined distance in one direction thereby to feed said wick, and a guide member carried by the base and adapted to receive the wick from said Wheels and deliver itto said candle-supporting member.

4. A machine of thecharacter described, comprising, in; combination, a base, a candlesupporting member carried by said base, the base having a wick aperture concentric with said member, a pair of intermeshing wheelsmounted for rotation on said base and adapted to grip a' wick between them, means for rotating said wheels a predetermined distance in one direction thereby to feed said wick, a' guide member carried by the base and adapted to receive the wick from said wheels and deliver. it to said candlesupporting member, a knife mounted on the base in spaced relation to said candle-supporting member and slidableinto position to sever said wick, and means operable by the actuation of the wheel-rotating means for imparting sliding motion to said knife.

, 5..A machine of the class described, comprising, in combination, a base, a pair of intermeshing wheels mounted for rotation onsaid base and adapted to gripa wick between them, a pair'of arms pivoted in concentric relation, to one of said wheels, a lever pivoted to said arms and adapted when swung onits pivot to engage saidwheel, an operating lever pivoted on the base, rods when said' operating lever is swung on its pivot thewheel-engaging lever is swung into operative engagement with the wheel thereby to rotate said wheel in one direction a predetermined distance, and means for returning said levers-to initial position.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising, .in combination, a base, a pair of intermeshing wheels mounted for rotation on's'aid base and adapted to grip a wick be- I25 tween them, a pair of arms pivotedin concentric relation to one of said wheels, a lever pivoted to v said arms and adapted when swung on its pivot to engage 'said wheel, anoperating lever pivoted on the base, rods connectin said levers together 'wlrereby when said pivot the wheel-engaging lever is swung into operative engagement with the wheel thereby to rotate the latter a predetermined distance in one direction, a knife carried by said base and slidable into position to sever said wick, a spring for retaining said knife in inoperative position, and means actuated by said operating lever during its pivotal movement for imparting slidingmotion to said knife against the action of its spring. 7. A'machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a base, a pair of intermeshing wheels mounted for rotation on said base and adapted to grip a wick between them, a candle-supporting member carried by said base, the base having a wick aperture concentric with said member, means for rotating said wheels a predetermined distance in one direction thereby to feed said wick, a guide member. carried by the base and adapted to receive the wick from said wheels and deliver it to said candle-supporting member, a wick-gripping member supported in said supporting member, a knife mounted on the base in spaced relation to said candle-supporting member and slidable into position to sever said wick, means for imparting sliding motion to said knife, and v a lever pivoted on said base and adapted to operate said rotating means, said wick gripping means, and said knife-operating means in proper sequence during pivotal movemen of the lever inone direction;

8. A machine of the character described, comprising, in combination, a supporting member having a guide opening, means for feeding a flexible wick through said opening, said supporting member being adapted to supporta wick-gripping member having a wick receiving opening in alinement with said guide opening provided with a set of pointed projections extending at an angle therefrom around its periphery and a similar set of projections around said wick openmg, means for actuating said feeding means, and means carried by said actuating means operating lever is swung on its for bending the projections of one set toward those of the other set.

' 9. A machine'of the character described, comprising, in combination, a supporting member having a guide opening, means for feeding a flexible wick through said opening, said supporting member being adapted to support a disk having a wick receiving opening in alinement with said guide opening and provided with a set of pointed projections extending at an angle from the disk around said wick opening, means for actuating said feeding means, and means carried by said actuating means for bending said projections toward the periphery of the disk. 10. A machine of the character described, comprising, in combination, a support, a pair of wheels mounted for rotation on said support, each ofsaid wheels divided along its periphery into a toothed portion and a smooth portion, the toothed portions being in intermeshing relation, a friction band encircling the smooth portion of each wheel, means for rotating one of said wheels a predetermined distance in one direction, a guide member carried by saidsupport in position to receive a wick fed between the smooth portions of the wheels, and means? for manually operating said wheel rotating means.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising, in combination, asupport, a pair of wheels mounted for rotation on said support, each of said wheelsdivided alongits periphery into a toothed portion and a smooth portion, the toothed portions being in intermeshing relation,a rubber band encircling the smooth portion of each- Wheel, means for rotating one of said wheels a predetermined distance in one direction, a guide member carried by said support in position to receive a wick fed between the smooth portions of the wheels, and means for manually operating said wheel rotating means.

In testimony whereof they have signed their names to this specification.

ARMANDO RAGIONIERI. OLINTO MADRIGALI. 

